Rotary begins Fabulous February Fun-raiser

We recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang one verse of “America.”

Lisa thanked today’s volunteers: Jan Ryan, Alberta Robinson, Dave Fisher, Keith Lape, Rick Kluge, Ed Wainscott, Todd Evans, April Clarke, Sharon Zuiderveld, Dan Lepper and Lynne Sheaff.

Ed led us in “In the Good Old Summer Time”  and “Smile.”

Announcements:

• PolioPlus jars are on the table

• FFF needs donations of a grill or a cooler and Jacksonville High School gear for the Fabulous February Fun-raiser. Donations should be in by Feb 1, when the online auction begins.

• Bass Tournament is April 2. Dave and Joey encouraged all members to participate and issued a financial challenge to us all.

• Scholar-Athlete Banquet Committee meeting, 5 pm. Feb 2 at McAllisters.

• Green Committee meeting, 8:30 a.m. Feb. 6 at Kim’s Place

• Membership Committee meeting, noon Feb. 6 at the chamber offices

• Community Service Committee meeting, 4 p.m. Feb. 6 at The Salvation Army

• First Monday social, 5 p.m. Feb. 6 at Bahans.

• Board Meeting, noon Feb. 8 at the chamber offices

• Guest reader needed Feb. 14 at South School. Thanks to Shawn for stepping up.

Lisa welcomed our guests: Anna, Chris Clarke and Savannah Tighe. We sang a song of welcome.

She also recognized January birthdays and we sang “Happy Birthday.”

Recognitions were led by Todd Evans, who announced he had thoroughly searched his home and found no classified papers. He also recognized Ginny and Sharon. Rotations were made by Dan Lepper, Ryan Byers, Bertie Robinson, Jim Hinchen and Joan McQuillan.

April and Chris Clarke, captains for The Salvation Army, gave us an update on what the group is doing and what it has planned for the rest of the year.

Lynne Sheaff drew unsuccessfully for the 50-50 pot.

The meeting adjourned at 12:50 p.m. with the Four-Way Test.

— Submitted by Lynne Sheaff

Jacksonville Sunrise Rotary Club

On the frigid, final day of January — which was highlighted by a beautiful sunrise — 13 Rotarians and one visiting Rotarian gathered in the nearly as chilly Holiday Inn Express meeting room. Those in attendance were President Linda Meece, Don Pigg, Mary Jane Hauser, Cindy Boehlke, Pat Pennell, Jane Becker, Ella Scaggs, Gordon Jumper, Sonie Smith, Jay Jamison, Sarah Robinson, Brittany Nickel and Sarah Edmiston, with guest speaker and Rotary Club of Jacksonville member Cathy Jo Littleton-Wahl. Greetings and discussion of the snowman party (yes, the weather cooperated this year!) and other notable events ebbed and flowed as the unbreakable Polio Jar was passed around the room.

President Linda rang the Jan. 31 meeting open at 6:58 a.m. Brittany led the Pledge of the Allegiance, Sonie led the recitation of theFour-Way Test and Pat gave the prayer. Rotations were made by Pat, Sarah Robinson, Jay, Mary, Jane, Cindy, Don, Kathy Jo, Pat and Sarah Edmiston. Cindy followed up with opportunities for Rotarians to donate to the scholarship fund with her final round of Recognitions for January. Jane volunteered to take up the reins for February’s dollar wrangling.

Next, Sonie’s birthday was celebrated a bit belatedly. Pat read her horoscope. Sonie then selected a present from the birthday bag and unwrapped a brand new box of Kleenex, a very useful item for sniffle season.

Jane announced the staggering amount of savings in coupons sent to the Troop-on project, including more than $670,000 donated since the start of the project. Next, Sarah Robinson gave a Lasagna Love update. All the lasagnas (including the back-up lasagnas) have been requested. After some discussion, the club decided to make eight more lasagnas at the Spirit of Faith kitchen starting at 10 a.m. Feb. 11, if Pastor Polly agrees. Cathy Jo offered the assistance of the Jacksonville noon club.

Cathy Jo gave an informative presentation on the tree program with the Rotary Club of Jacksonville (the official title of the other local Rotary club). We learned about the history of this worthy idea, including the recent name change to Rotary Green, the cost of a 5-foot sapling and plaques available through Production Press, how Rotary and the city of Jacksonville are working together to have a choice of five different trees planted, watered and maintained in five parks maintained by Jacksonville’s parks department. We learned of the new trees planted, including one in memory of those Rotarians who passed in 2022. Cathy Jo passed out order forms for the club’s perusal and was thanked with an appreciative round of applause.

President Linda rang the meeting to a close at 7:48 a.m. The next meeting will be at 7 a.m. Feb. 7 in the Holiday Inn Express meeting room. All visiting Rotarians and guests are welcome.

— Submitted by Sarah Edmiston